03 feb 2026, 10:43
Last updated: Feb 3, 2026, 10:53 am
The Telegraph revealed a new passage in the transfer soap surrounding Kodai Sano. In Kick-off Mike Verweij, Ajax watcher, announced that a striking offer was made to NEC during the negotiations.
The Amsterdam team already wanted to take over Sano from the Nijmegen team this transfer window. Ajax is eagerly looking for a 6 and ended up with the Japanese midfielder.
Ajax reportedly offered ten million euros and also proposed a player. “And then they come with ten million and (Ahmetcan, ed.) Kaplan,” said Valentijn Driessen. “Then you wouldn’t answer, would you?” he added.
According to Verweij, the Turkish defender has a market value of five million euros and will be worth less after this season because he has an expiring contract. The Ajax watcher from The Telegraph stated that a defender like Kaplan is not an unnecessary luxury.
“As NEC, try to find such a left-footed central defender for that price,” he said, who then revealed a very painful detail. “But it would have been useful if Ajax had also informed Kaplan’s management that this deal had been proposed.”
“That is very painful, isn’t it?”, presenter Pim Sedee responded in astonishment. “You can’t offer a player without that player knowing about it, can you?” he wondered, to which Verweij replied: “Yes, but this has of course become one big soap opera.”
The offer that Ajax submitted to NEC has been rejected. According to The Telegraph There was an outline agreement with Sano, but the people of Nijmegen are sticking to their guns: the Japanese will finish the season in De Goffert.
